Village Hardware, a longtime small business in Arden Heights, closed this past weekend following a two-month sale that allowed customers to save up to 75 percent on merchandise. Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A convenient, longtime hardware store located in the heart of Arden Heights sold its last home improvement merchandise this past Saturday.

Village Hardware, a True Value shop, closed Saturday at 5 p.m.

Tom Irving, a manager at the store and an employee for 20 years, said the business struggled over the past few years as other big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement opened on the South Shore.

Irving said the store had been a neighborhood fixture. It opened for business more than 23 years ago when the Village Greens plaza was erected.

"It was original to the plaza," said Irving, of the business that occupied three storefronts.

Last Friday, the store was reduced to half of one storefront. Workers, including Irving, were dismantling shelves and other parts of the business. Many items were gone. Two aisles remained, and everything was discounted to 75 percent off its original price. The massive sale was in place for two months, Irving said.

"You're starting to see the mom and pop stores disappear," said Irving, noting that Village Hardware used to be loaded with an assortment of hardware goods at one time.

"Business is not as busy as it used to be," he said. "There was a large drop in sales. It's the times now."

Neighborhood resident Jill Subes had visited the store a handful of times since it opened more than two decades ago.

She was browsing the slim inventory Friday. Her intention was to visit the store to have a key made, but the service was discontinued.

"It was a convenience here," she said.

Irving, who grew up working at the store, said he plans to work for the Savo Brothers business. The company serves as landlord to the plaza that includes Key Food, a CVS, nail salon, sushi restaurant, bank and pizzeria.